Fun with fundraising and building with bamboo.

Well, I abandoned my post posting here for some time. I guess I got distracted running a business, but what a great distraction!
We have had a great few years here at Casa de los Sueños and look forward to many more.

This coming season 2015/2016 we will be focusing on fundraising and community development. Our biggest project will be working towards the funding and facilitation of a building for the preparatory school (10th through 12th grades).
Currently they share the building with the secondary school and there are issues in accommodating both sets of students.
Having a preparatory school is a huge deal for a small community, it means that those kids will have the opportunity to go to university or a Technical school, and hopefully bring their knowledge and training back to the community.
This preparatory school project is very close to home for our team here a Los Sueños, as we have kids who are recently graduated (congratulations Yosuny!), will be graduating next year, and more that will be going there in the coming years. Apart from a general need for the community, we personally have a great desire to provide a wonderful learning environment for the youth of Yelapa.
We will announce fundraising events as the winter/high season begins. There will be dinners, music and dance shows, art auctions, and much more!

Another very exciting project is BAMBOO! We have been working with bamboo here at Los Sueños for some time, as we have a handful of large groves.
BUT we need a lot more education in cultivating, curing and building. Bamboo has major potential to bring a more sustainable way of life (both environmentally and economically) to Yelapa and other communities in Mexico (and the world!).
In October I will be attending the annual meeting of the American Bamboo Society in Xalapa Veracruz, and I could not be more thrilled!
A whole weekend of education, networking and community that is all about all bamboo all the time! Call me crazy, but I cannot wait it's gonna be a blast!

I'll be writing more often and really hope you all keep reading.
Saludos from the team at Los Sueños, and of course, everyones favorite Technical Mexican!

Bamboo planters built by our guys at Los Suenos

Escaping Paradise

In just 2 weeks I'll be heading north to California for a couple months. I am so happy to see my friends and family and do some fun stuff while I'm there.
I will, however, miss my little village. There are many reasons (as I'm sure in a different mood I can think of many reason to not miss it) that make it a bit sad to go. These reasons aren't all quite what you'd think they would be. For instance I, of course, will miss warmth, swimming in the ocean, and my boyfriend. Those are the obvious ones.
I will miss the slow pace and in some ways the lackadaisical way of doing things here.
For instance, after thinking I finally had all the paper work I needed for registering my business under my name, it was done wrong. Who's fault that was I can't say exactly, but no matter really.
So, yesterday I took a beautiful walk up river to the house of the Delegate for this area. When I arrived no one was at the "desk" (a computer sitting on their patio) so I called out. I then saw a group of women sitting at a table under a tree around the side of the house. It looked like they were crafting. One of the young ladies came over and I explained that I needed some changes on the paperwork. She said no problem with no questions asked. However, would it be possible to come get it tomorrow as they were using the only extension cord, the one for the computer, for a hot glue gun for crafting cloth flowers.
Now, maybe because of my deep appreciation for crafting myself, or just because...what else could I do. I said, of course I'll come back when the only extension cord in your "office" is not otherwise engaged.
We'll see if it's ready when I go in today, hopefully they finished all their flowers. Or maybe I should bring my own extension cord. Either way, I'll be stopping on the way home to pick up some passion fruit, so whatever happens it wont' be a total loss.
I have to go to the DMV when I get to California, I have a feeling there will be no crafting being done.
And the following photo has nothing to do with anything, it's just a cute frog hanging out in my doorway. Another thing to miss.

Floods, frogs and crocodiles, oh my!

It turns out I didn't win the "when will the rains come" pool. I found out the hard way, by waking up to a flooding house. About 2 inches in my room. All is well, no damage and now we have fixed the issues that caused the flooding. I forgot what real tropical storm rain was like. When you are in it it's like someone is following you around with a hose that has very good water pressure.
We've had a very productive few days since then. Nothing like the aftermath of a flood to get you to do a good deep clean of the house.
I also forgot the intensity of the crabs and bugs just after a storm, the crabs I don't love but at least they are a bit comical. The bugs, now they are not comical. Sometime ones reaction to them flying into their face is comical. But generally, ick!
Another fun thing is all the frogs they really love the rain! They also really love making love in my room on the floor next to my bed. Shown in the video below. 

Now the conversation has changed, no more, "when do you think it will rain?". Now the conversation includes things like, "there is a guy selling pineapples for only 20 pesos and they are big, sweet, and juicy!" and "did you here about the crocodile in the lagoon?", "yes actually, I heard there were two".
Yes, actually I did hear there were two. In the rainy season the crocodiles from way way up in the jungle sometimes wash down into the river here. I think they are pretty small, but in the mean time we are going to keep my brother's dog out of the river...just in case.
Apparently the government wants a photo of it before they send someone out to get it...get out your cameras everyone! And keep your limbs inside the boat at all times.

Summer in Paradise

Well, after dusting the cobwebs off of everything in my house I will now do the same for my blog. There has been a lot of action since I last wrote.
I have moved into Casas de los Sueños, have had some guests, done some traveling, and as of late a whole lot of sweeping up dead bugs every morning. Not to mention dodging toads and land crabs.
Summer in the tropics is a constant battle against nature, and it always wins. Think of it as one of those time lapse nature videos, that...but in real time. You can spray on bug spray, sit in front of the fan, sweep out cobwebs, but all of these measures are purely temporary. When the spray sweats off, the power goes out, and the cobwebs are back in 20 minutes, you are just where you started...hot and bug bitten.
I know this sounds bad. And to some it would be. To me it is a test of my endurance and I am thoroughly enjoying it. (Not the bug bites, those just itch). The heat lends to my natural laziness and allows me to sleep during the day without feeling guilty. The ocean is calm, clear, and warm. I have been swimming a lot and it is one of most simultaneously invigorating and relaxing things in the whole world.
The jungle around me is alive and full of interesting beautiful wildlife. At dusk the sound of the night creatures are deafening. It is a mystery as to what is making each noise to add to the symphony of sound. I equally want and don't want to know what is making every individual noise.
The rains have not come. There was a storm  a couple weeks ago when I was not here and was sad to miss it. But the real everyday rainy season rains have not come. We are working towards shutting down the houses for this. That means, cleaning, wrapping in plastic, checking roofs, and generally putting stuff away.
The talk on the trail usually includes a comment on how hot it is "Que calor, no?" and when the rains will come "Parece que quiere llover" "No, no va a llover hasta el 25 de Junio". I am always amazed at the exact dates people give...are they taking bets? If not, maybe we should start a pool in town.
Personally I think it's going to start raining on the 19th of June. 
I'll let you know who wins the pool.

A sueño come true.

When I was a just a small kid and was asked what I wanted to do when I grew up I would say I wanted to be Garfield. When I got a bit older (8 or 9ish) I would say I wanted to have a restuarant and farm. Apparently I was way before my time with the whole "slow food" thing. Back when folks just called it "food".
It's a strange feeling when you've vaguely dreamed of doing something for most of your life, without knowing what it really looked like, and suddenly it's what you are doing.
No I don't own a farm, or a restaurant, and it turns out I don't really want to. But what has happened is that I am now the proprietor of a bed and breakfast style villa in the tropics of Mexico.
Rather my brother Mateo and I, and really the rest of my immediate family as we tend to do things together.
I, however, have the honor of being the Ava Gardner a la "Night of the Iguana" character in this story (seriously if you haven't seen it, do so), the hostess atop the tropical hill above the sea.
We are proud and excited to say we will now be taking the reins of Casa de los Sueños in Yelapa. Some years ago we met Shannon and David (and family) after they acquired and beautifully restored the historic yet very neglected Shapiro house. The property right next door to our own Los Arboles. We became dear friends and happy neighbors for a good couple of years. Sadly, for us and the community of Yelapa, David and Shannon have decided to end their time as business owners here. There are offers they can't refuse, grandkids, and apparently they like being cold a lot of the time, so they are packing up and heading back up to Canada. There are not words for how much I, and many more, will miss them here (luckily it's actually in the contract that they have to come visit).
The serendipity of this transfer is, to me, the most perfect of things. A real reminder that when we put our minds to something, even when we aren't quite sure what it is, we have the power to make it happen.
There is a lot of hard work, true challenges, really fun times ahead, and we are very excited to get to it!

Time moves both extremely slowly and quickly in the tropics.

I feel that I have neglected my duties as an internet presence. I realize here that when it feels like a week has passed it sometimes is more like three. At other times it feels as if the end of the day or week or month will never come. Time crawls and then it sprints and then crawls again.
Since I last posted we have had what seemed like month of cold and rain, really about a week. The sun has finally returned and I am so happy for it. At first I really enjoyed the rain. It's kind of cozy, it's beautiful on the water, it cleans everything, and it smells amazing. Then your clothes won't dry, your salt turns to salt water, the boat rides are wet and very bumpy, and you can't close the door on the rain because there isn't one.
There has been a lot of action here in the last few weeks. My brother Mateo got pretty sick and my mom decided to come down spur of the moment. It was wonderful to have her here. She is an extremely capable and knowledgeable woman, but especially when it comes to living here in Yelapa. She has information and ideas that are immensely helpful to running a house here. Also, I just really like her and was so happy to be able to spend time with her.
We had our first scorpion sting this week, our friend Julian had the honor of being the stingee. He said he was glad he could learn the lesson for the rest of us...be ever diligent! It was in his shorts that had been hanging over a bed post. He is actually one of the most cautious guests we've had...unfortunately it takes just one small mistake. Now as far as he is concerned there is a scorpion on everything...really a pretty good way to think of it.
We have some very big and very exciting projects on the very near horizon. I will dedicate a blog to this subject very soon. I can say that Yelapa will be my more permanent home from now on.
Friday I have guests arriving and I am very much looking forward to that. I will get back on posting photos and more blogs soon. For now I am going to enjoy some of this sun that we finally have. Hasta el proximo blog!
P.S. The bees are good, just being bees for the moment. I hope to have more time with them soon.

Guest writer Shannon Yates on shopping adventures in PV

Yesterday I had to make a flying trip to Vallarta for supplies, toilet paper being first on the list. In one week with only 12 people on the property we went through 40 rolls of toilet paper. Mind you, they were all women so I guess no shakey, shakey with them. Since the pier is still NOT finished in Vallarta, I take the boat to Boca followed by the bus to PV. I board the bus in Boca and about 10 mins into the ride, it stops to pick up Elvis Presley, yup an exact look alike complete with shiny guitar. He boards and starts singing and strumming just like Elvis. Now this guy is smart; he gets on before all the pick ups, mostly gringos, from the villas, hotels and condos along the way. Within the 30 min ride to PV, from my vantage point he collected about 250 ps (25 bucks).

In PV, I get off the Boca bus and board the city bus for Sam's Club and Walmart. About midway, we stop at a light and next to us is a police pick up truck with the truck bed full of gringos (young, white men) handcuffed and tied up with rope. Some are bloodied up, most look hung over and/or still drunk. There are 4 police standing on the 4 corners of the truck bed with guns pointed at the yahoos. Right behind them is another police truck, this one loaded with a bunch of young Mexican women, some with black eyes and bloody mouths and all handcuffed and tied up. Same number of police. Everyone on the bus, mostly Mexicans, are yapping away about what all this means. The conclusion drawn over the next 15 blocks was a prostitution house gone wrong. Ohhhh, sure hope this doesn't hit the press -- another reason why tourists should not visit Mexico.

I get all my shopping down, about 100 lbs of it and am packing it into the good ole Mountain Equipment Coop rollaway bag. Once done with that I talk with the cab driver about the fare straight to Boca. In the middle of my conversation with this guy, I feel a tap on my shoulder. Turn around and standing there is a Mexican guy from Tino's Hacienda up around El Tuito way. He trains horses to dance and a year or so ago Mateo, David and I took a trip with Brad up through the mountains. We stopped at the Hacienda and drank some of the best tequila (brewed there) and watched this guy with his dancing horse. About 3 weeks ago he was in Yelapa with the horse as part of the entertainment for the campaign fiesta. It is election year and some of the candidates were holding a forum up by Manguitos. I went up and listened to some of it and talked with this guy and his horse again. Back to Sam's Club now -- he remembered seeing me both times and wanted to know if I was going to Boca. If so he would give me a ride. I was bit nervous about accepting but thought 'what the hell' all is likely good. Got to his truck and there is his wife, a gaggle of kids, 2 more men and a pile of shopping too. All the women, including me and most of the kids jumped in the truck bed and the rest in the front. Wowso! I always wanted to ride in a truck bed in Mexico, preferably without handcuffs. Got lots of stares from Mexicans and gringos on the road to Boca. They dropped me at Boca in time for the 3 p.m. boat back to Yelapa.

A day like this could never be planned. Made the dreaded shopping day loads of fun. Thank you Mexico!